Maharashtra: Both Factions Of NCP Declare More Candidates On Last Day Of Nomination Filing, Ajit Pawar Fields Former UBT Leader

On the last day of nomination filing, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) [NCP(SP)] declared five more candidates, taking the total count of its contesting candidates to 87.

Notably, among the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) parties, the Congress has named 103 candidates and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) 87, but uncertainty remains over nearly a dozen seats.

Similarly, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP released its fourth candidate list on Tuesday (29 October) for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, featuring two names.

Among those nominated is Shankar Hiraman Mandekar, former district head of Shiv Sena UBT’s Bhor and Khadakwasla Assembly constituency. After being denied a ticket, Mandekar left Shiv Sena UBT, joining the NCP, which then nominated him from Bhor.

In response, Shiv Sena UBT announced his removal from the party on Tuesday morning for "anti-party activities." Mandekar will now contest as a candidate for the Mahayuti alliance.

Earlier too, Ajit Pawar's NCP has fielded former leaders of other parties including former Congress MLA Zeeshan Siddique, son of Baba Siddique who was recently killed by Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Voting for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly is scheduled for 20 November, with the vote count set for 23 November along with Jharkhand assembly and by-polls for several assembly and parliamentary seats.